genderbend
Character gender swap
Genderbend is to reimagine a character, person, or figure as a different gender than their original presentation.
Common in fan fiction, fan art, and cosplay, where creators depict male characters as female or vice versa: a genderbent version of Sherlock Holmes, She genderbent Link for her costume.
The noun genderbend refers to such a reimagining.
Also appears as gender-bend or gender bend.
Variable gender identity
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
- bigenderTwo-gender identity
agender · androgyne · demiboy · demigirl · transmasculine · transfeminine · pronouns · dysphoria
Dressing as media characters
- fanfictionAmateur work using existing characters
- fanartUnofficial creative homages
- crossplayCostuming across gender lines
- headcanonUnconfirmed fan-created backstory
reimagining · shipping · fancasting · remix · tribute · parody · reinterpretation · adaptation
Reform or reassign roles
- retellingNarrating something anew
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- reimaginingFresh interpretation of existing material
- subversionUndermining established authority
trope · protagonist · heroine · hero · remake · alternate · twist · flip
Resistance through fluid
- crossdressingWearing another gender's clothing
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- voguingStylized pose-based dancing
- pageantStaged public display
transformation · tucking · binding · padding · wig · makeup · illusion · impersonation
Expected behavioral standards
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- transgressionViolation of law or code
rebellion · nonconformity · challenge · taboo · disruption · provocation · counterculture · iconoclasm
Transforming into other beings
- LokiNorse god of deception
- TiresiasSightless oracle of Thebes
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- tricksterCunning deceiver in myth
deity · folklore · legend · magical · curse · enchantment · transformation · myth
genderfluid
Variable gender identity
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
bigender · agender · androgyne · demiboy · demigirl · transmasculine · transfeminine · pronouns · dysphoria · euphoria
cosplay
Dressing as media characters
- fanfictionAmateur work using existing characters
- fanartUnofficial creative homages
- crossplayCostuming across gender lines
headcanon · reimagining · shipping · fancasting · remix · tribute · parody · reinterpretation · adaptation · roleplay
recast
Reform or reassign roles
- retellingNarrating something anew
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- reimaginingFresh interpretation of existing material
subversion · trope · protagonist · heroine · hero · remake · alternate · twist · flip · deconstruction
drag
Resistance through fluid
- crossdressingWearing another gender's clothing
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- voguingStylized pose-based dancing
pageant · transformation · tucking · binding · padding · wig · makeup · illusion · impersonation · persona
norms
Expected behavioral standards
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
transgression · rebellion · nonconformity · challenge · taboo · disruption · provocation · counterculture · iconoclasm · radical
shapeshifting
Transforming into other beings
- LokiNorse god of deception
- TiresiasSightless oracle of Thebes
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
trickster · deity · folklore · legend · magical · curse · enchantment · transformation · myth · Mulan
- cosplaycosplayer, costume, props, wig, makeup
- transformationchange, metamorphosis, morphing, shape-shifting, shapeshifting
- gender rolesmasculinity, femininity, traditional roles, domestic roles, family roles
- fanfictionfanfiction, fan fiction, fic, fanfic, slash